Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-25
ST. PhTRICK'S DAY.
Celebration at St. Mary's Hall Lecture
by Rev. y. j. O'Sullivnn.

largely attended entertainment ana Zee
ture at st. Mary's Hall last evening. st.
Mary's Benevolent society was present in
a body aud occupied seats in the centre of
the hall, and almost every available seat
was taken by the large and enthusiastic
audience. The programme consisted of
musical selections by Sherman's military
band and the students of st. Joseph's col
lege and IA learned and eloquent address
on English Efforts to Govern Ireland"
by Rev. ID. J. O'Sulivan. The singing by
the pupils of St .Joseph's college was
spirited and showed some fine and well.
trained voices, while the patriotic airs and
other selections by the sherman Military
band were of the high order of excellence
for which that organization is famous.
The principal feature of the evening was
the lecture by Rev. u. j. O'Sullivan, |
president of st. Joseph's college. This
lecture was listened to with deep atten-
ton and called forth frequent and hearty |
applause. The speaker introduced his
| subject "Engish Efforts to Govern Ire |
land" by II pleasant allusion to st. Pat
ricks day, and continued, i'll brief, as fol-
| lows:
When nation becomes over-engrossed
in material interests, and Indifferent 70
ennobing inspirations, "reminiscences of
the past or hopes of the future, that ma
ton is on the verge of decadence. In the
hearts of Irishmen no characteristic is
more vital nor dominant than love of
country and do not mean by love of
country the love of either Ireland or
America alone, but of both. Where
ever you find an Irishman you
find equal love for Ireland aud
America The lrshman loves America
because it is the land of liberty, of gener-
osity and fair play. He loves Ireland be-
cause she is the helpless victim of tyran-
ny. Think not that the intense devoted
ness of the Irish American to the old
country is a hindrance to his American
patriotism. On the contrary, whenever
you meet an Irishman or the descendant
of an Irishman who strives to conceal his
name or origin, you have the worst posi-
BILE material for an American citizen.
Hitherto the accustomed theme of
speakers upon such an occasion as this
has been the faded glories of Erin. But
we have to face other issues to-day more
vital, more mOmentouS. To-day Ireland
stands at the bar of human justice and
demands her rights. Never did Ireland
see more clearly than to-day what are her
rights; never was she surer of winning
them. England for 700 years or more has
claimed the right to govern Ireland. Eng
land has failed now Ireland asks for Il
chance. The policy of England has been
inhuman and cruel Her policy has al
ways been to get possession of the soil of
Ireland, and the means she has used have
been a bad government or no government
Ireland demands her own government
This is the IRISH question in nutshell
We must discuss the cause of Ireland as
justly and calmly as human nature will
allow.
The speaker then gave a rapid sketch of
the first Norman English invasion of Ire
} land and the final amalgamation of the
Norman soldiers with the Celtic people.
Henry the Seventh sent over to Ireland IA
royal deputy,whO assembled a parliament,
2 and in this parliament it was decreed that
} this mockery of an English Irish paria-
ment should henceforth depend upon the
English crown. This was the period of the
Norman domination of Ireland. 1t may
be asked by some why the Irish com
r planned of their domination by England
2 ParadoXical as it may seem, Ireland was
never conquered by the English. But
5 suppOsing that Ireland had been conquer
ed, would it have been right or necessary
for her to nave given up every inch of soil
: upon which her people were born There
fore Ireland did not submit. Were it not
for the unfortunate clalnlSh system of the
! Irish they might have driven the English
out.
We next come to the period of
) what may be called the reforma-
: ton parliament in Ireland. The
English king declared that all Irish
laws were abolished. Henry the Eighth
attempted to carry out this decree. He
began to prosecute the Irish because they
/ were good Catholics. We have con
templated period of injustice, broken
l faith now we turn to period of treach
J cry and slaughter, of the halter and of
= fire. This period lasted from the reign of
t Henry the Seventh to the surrender of
=, Limerick, including the violation of the
Z treaty of Limerick, the treachery and
cruelty of Cromwell and his acts of con
: tiscation, eviction and repatriation. From
r the ascension of William and Mary there
t was a period of absolute landlord domin
| atipn We find ireland in the hand, n
:, favorites of kings and queens.
e But there came time when England
e was not so free to tryranniZe over Ireland
e 1t was when she began to have some
= trouble with Mr.. Washington. At thi!
l. time she authorized the Irish to defend
themselves. During the reign Of George
2 the Third liberty and home rule wer,
1t granted to the Irish Parliament.
II Now word with regard to Ireland
|. prosperity No nation in the world from
d 1882 to 1906 swelled into more opulence ant
; prosperity than Ireland The population
l. sweled from 5000 900 to 5O6O.6OO. AL
W trades and industries flourshed wonder
lie fully. But England beheld with poo
e, grace the prosperity of her hatred riya
s. and it lasted but few years b.
y: bribery and deception she won tn
It consent of the Irish Parliamen
f. and this body was abolished and lrelan'
he was again under English bondage. Dun
is ing the reign of Queen Anne the Iris
his landlord commanded. Such was tn
condition of Ireland until the advent O
es Daniel O'Connell, who inaugurated neN
40 era in Irish history.
he The rest of English domination of Ire
q land belongs to modern history. Tn
a. Irish are taking the advice of Parnell tt
~ day to allow the landlords TO evict bu
'r not to vote as they demand. the RI
or suit is that we have no members in tn
n English Parliament to-day representa-
of the English landlords. They represer
lie. the Irish people. | think it is evder
nd from the facts of history that England
le government of Ireland has been failur
ST think too that the dawn of Irish libert
lg is upon us. 1t rests with the Irish then
of follow in the path they been bea
it ing out Their divisions are at a
1t end They are one people to-da
IN They have but one leader their u
ng crowned king, Charles Stewart Parnel
What can we do to advance that cause
BE faithful, peaceable citizens. Avoid